Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
502. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently examine issues raised in regard to the first home scheme and the inaccessibility of the help-to-buy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57390/25]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, within regional price ceilings, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home. The Government’s clear priority is accelerating and increasing new housing supply.
The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC) is fully responsible for the operation of the First Home Scheme on behalf of all shareholders, including price ceiling reviews. At its launch, the First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC) announced it would review all price ceilings at 6-month intervals. The DAC takes into account a range of factors as part of these reviews, including the median price and volume of new builds purchased by first time buyers in each local authority area.
At the end of June, the First Home Scheme DAC published the outcome of its scheduled 6-monthly review of the price ceilings that apply to qualifying homes and subsequently revised price ceilings in relation to 16 local authority areas. This includes an increase in the ceiling in Kerry County Council from €350,000 to €375,000. The revised price ceilings came into effect on 1 July. The next 6 monthly review will take place in December 2025.
More information on price-ceiling reviews is available at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-scheme/property-price-ceilings/.
The Programme for Government indicates that it will work with the Banks to expand the First Home Scheme to first time buyers of second-hand homes. I have requested that the First Home Scheme undertake the required analytical and technical work to examine the potential for such an expansion and the matter is under consideration.
All local authorities, including Kerry County Council, have developed and published their Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out their plans to deliver social and affordable housing from 2022-2026, following a comprehensive Housing Needs and Demand Assessment. A copy of Kerry County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on its website at the following link: www.kerrycoco.ie/housing-delivery-programme/.
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to assist towards the cost of developing affordable housing at locations where significant affordability needs have been identified. My Department met with the Housing Delivery team in Kerry County Council in December 2024 to support their work towards the identification and development of appropriate proposals which may lead to the delivery of affordable housing with the support of the AHF in response to localised needs identified by the local authority at key urban locations such as Killarney and Tralee.
In support of City and Towns regeneration policies, such as Towns Centre First, the Ready to Build serviced sites scheme is available which supports local authorities to provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Further information with regard to the scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/33209-ready-to-build-scheme-serviced-sites-for-new-homes/ or by contacting Vacant Homes officer directly from Kerry County Council.
My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist Kerry County Council in relation to ongoing development of its response to meeting affordable housing needs in Kerry.
Please note the Help to Buy incentive is not within the remit of my Department, and is operated by the Revenue Commissioners. The Department of Finance (policy) and the Revenue Commissioners (operation) should be in a position to assist with queries regarding the scheme. More information is available at: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/who-can-claim-htb.aspx.
